In the past couple of weeks, I neglected several of my current favorite television shows so I can finish watching Friday Night Lights. I started watching the acclaimed series in 2010, right before it ended. I caught a few episodes on DVD via Netflix because I heard nothing but positive criticism from numerous sites and podcasts. Suffice it to say, they weren’t wrong.
In 2010, I marathoned Season 1 within a week or so, which was usually 13 episodes. At the time I was in a different mindset, especially when it comes to relationships, I wasn’t single and I was contented about where my life was heading — anyway, I digressed, overall I enjoyed Season 1, it had great moments and great character development, most notably the main character, Eric Taylor played by Kyle Chandler. Eric Taylor, who’s the coach of the Dillon Panthers and is also known as simply ‘Coach’ throughout the seasons, is a respected and well grounded human being/father/husband who’s unbelievably levelheaded. Basically he’s the perfect father figure.
After two years of postponing my Friday Night Lights marathon, due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances, cluttered into a busy schedule, plus I was watching a couple of other great television shows, it was impossible to watch and continue. Fast forward to late 2011, a drastic change in my livelihood and some changes in my mindset, I decided to return to the acclaimed television show.
By far, I believe Season 2 of Friday Night Lights is one of the weakest, and probably the most dreadful seasons for any television shows I’ve ever watched. Two words: Dead Body. In retrospective, it was during the time of the writer’s strike, which was the sole reason for the season’s declining plot and character development. In a quick second they turned a beloved family drama into a haphazard and atrocious crime thriller, with a numbed story. I was definitely worried. At this point Netflix Instant had all the seasons of Friday Night Lights, which was easier to watch now. It actually took me a year until I finished Season 2 because it was so abysmal I couldn’t endured majority of what was happening.
In the past year, I’ve watched Seasons 3-5, ending Season 5 just last week. My brief and thorough assessment about Friday Night Lights as a whole is very simple: It’s the best family drama I’ve ever watched. After Season 3, the showrunners did an excellent and elegant job in transitioning themselves with an opportunity. They sort of hit the reset button and configured the dynamics with the characters, and their relationships with Dillon, it equated to one of the best seasons in television history, especially being prime time and on a network. Much of their success is credited to actor Michael B. Jordan, who played Vince Howard, the QB1 for the East Dillon Lions. After his introduction, the character rejuvenated the series by subtly implementing actual social commentary that many American’s resonated with. Him being an amazing actor also added to the triumph of the series. All of a sudden it went beyond football. Season 4, and pretty much anything afterward, dealt with the differences between the social classes and our responsibility to take care of our community. We started to have characters with actual dilemmas and troubles, it didn’t feel contrived, for once it felt honest. Character’s actually had to live with certain consequences and many learned from them.
Many might dismiss Friday Night Lights as being melodramatic, comparing it to soap operas. To the contrary, it felt natural. Sure, there were several incidents that felt like a soap opera, but it certainly wasn’t. Friday Night Lights had depth and it was exceptionally dense. Majority of the time we followed the Taylors, whom were probably the most organic family in television, and strived to stay as a loving unit, whom were compassionate for each other. They found compromise, and they communicated very well. It’s a family we strived to endure and become. I had many more reactions and opinions but I think I’m ranting now, anyway, I can’t recommend the series enough.
Also, I will admit, and I’m not embarrassed, I don’t think there was one episode in which I wasn’t emotional impacted. Yes, I didn’t have a single dry eye.
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